Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-04-22
EARNING A HOME,


Some years ago little half-starved,
halfnaked lad came over from Ire.
land, and landed at New York. Like
many another waif, he wandered
about the great northern metropolis
until he grew thinner than ever, and
the rags hung more forlornly upon his
skinny limbs.
If this was America-to be kicked
and cufied about by policemen, to
have no friends, no place to rest his
tired little body, and almost nothing
to eat-then he wished he was in Ire
land again, with the Old mother and
1 the dozen uncombed brothers and els
tiers.
Alas, he feared that he could never
make his fortune in New York;
4 so, after awhile, he wandered out into
the country. Kind hearted people
gave him now and then a crust. and
he trudged on day after day, his eyes
ever on the alert for ''bit of a job. :"
But no one had work for such an
urchin. 1t would have taken week
to get hin thoroughly washed and
dressed, to say nothing of clothing his
gaunt form with u respectable garment
of flesh.
His peregrinations finally brought
him to Il large manufacturing center,
through which loud voiced river, the
blood of the huge giants toiled in the
town, plunged on toward the near
ocean.
There YVES great buzzing of ma
chinery everywhere, and everybody
was busy.
What a multitude poured out oil!
the great factories when the day was
done!
Our little Patrick took heart. Per
haps in this stirring town there was
work even for him.
He accosted gray haired, pleasant
faced man who was hurrying out of
grocery with some parcels under his
arm.
IF yer PLACE, sir. can yer tell me if
there's anything boy can get to do
in this placer"
II don't know And the man
looked kindly at him, and mott ed his
thin face and bright eyes. 1--WE need
another boy in the spinning room. You
can come up to that large factory in the
morning, and perhaps they'll hire you
| if they think you can work we'll"
So little Patrick Mahoney found a
job at last He soon learned to run IA
spinning jack, and his quick motions
and intelligence brought him rapidly
into favor. He was quiet lad, and
saving of his small earnings, for he
worked for a purpose.
He had not forgotten that wretchcd
little hovel over in old Ireland.
Slowly the months drag by in mill,
leaving little for the employe to re-
member but confused janglc OF
sounds, the rumbling and jarring OF
many heavy wheels, and tangled
threads that must be Strengthened, and
the humdrum thoughts that with the
huge shafts 60 over and over. Pat
Mahoney thought of several thi ngs
every day. He thought of the cozy
tenement he would take by and by,and
bow he would make it warm with
lplenty Of coal, and how the children
wouldn't have to cry because they
were cold or hungry, and how sur
prised the old mother would be when
she walked up from the station and
saw such fine house all ready for her.
A long succession of Mondays, ever
looking forward TO restful Saturday
might, long self-sacrifice, ever look
ing forward to pleasure for others in
tho future, and Patrick Mahoney
reached the stature of man. Sharp
Ieycd as ever, and almost as thin, hon
est and industrious, he was section.
hand in the same factory where he
|entcred as poor ragged child.
1t was noon, and he stood carelessly
Iplaying with the big belt, and chatter
ling with another section hand. 1t
was the man who helped him to a
tplacc when he first came to the town;
he was oiling up the machinery.
"1es, my tenement is ready. I've
Igot everything snug and comfortable,
land | expect them all here tonight.
1.-THE older ones can go at once to work
in the mill, and the youngsters can go
TO school. | want some of 'cm TO get a
bit oil an education. I'm going to get
lsuch glorious old supper as they
inever had before in all their lives.
Won't mothers eyes shincw
: "AnG they're coming 10 night" re-
lpea,ed the old man. smiling in sympa-
thy with the happy boy.
II Pat gave the belt an exultant toss.
Yes, they're coming To-"
il In an instant the great leather band
had leaped TO its place around the
p shat. Over and over, over and over,
!. Itwice-fifty times-one hundred times
4 What cared the pitless wheel who
twas coming tonight? Two hundred
: times. There was crowd there
then. The machinery stopped, and
they took something from its iron
clutches. 1t bore scarcely a resem
blance to the human form, yet it was
: Iall that was left of Patrick Mahoney.
u They carried the poor crushed body
to the little tenement, and laid it down
livery gently. Pat was favorite with
the boys. An old woman cries over
!. him. He had been kind to her be.
: cause she had looked like his mother.
Il A forlorn little fellow, very like the
!. Pat Mahoney of q few years before,
sobbed in the corner. Pat saw him in
!. the street one day, and found him q
!. place in the mill.
II 1t is evening. A heavy train moved
r slowly into the station. A throng was
o waiting on the platform; another
|. throng poured out OF the crowded
: coaches. A red checked, shabby ole